The Lost Princess

Lucy Hagwill

Moore carried as many secrets as its owner, although every room seemed to be in need of some sort repair there was no doubt the manor had at one point been a hub of opulence. Scattered pieces of papers provided glimpses into the lives of those who have lived here.

    "Right...here," my finger sunk against the wall a soft click echoed down the hallway as the secret door slid open on its own. Looking down at Catherine's notes I add a post-it against the room I've found. Multiple spots in the plans had been marked with the image of a wolf the stamp I realized meant the room had been sealed off or hidden--behind bookshelves under massive grand pianos. The mysterious passages snaked around the entire manor and if it hadn't been for Catherine's notes I never would have discovered them.

    Pushing the door further I'm welcomed by a set of stairs that lead ominously up towards the darkness. The elusive fourth floor.

    Although the light outside is still bright in the sky I pull out my flashlight and point it up towards the darkness. The stairs aren't too long and I can see the outline of another door. For some reason Lauren's face flashes through my mind, she had sent me a text message earlier and I guess anyone would think about the 'love of their life' in the face of imminent doom. Not that I mean to be dramatic but I've searched every single other room, if there are rats in the Manor they can exist only in one space.

    I think of the knife in my back pocket and the hammer I'm holding under the book. Whatever I find up there I know I'll find answers. I start to ascend. 

    The stairs creak under me as I reach the top of the stairs. The Manor seems to hold its breath as I push against the old wooden door and step through the doorway into another world.

    Frozen I look around the open space in open-mouthed shock. The room was big enough to house two families comfortably maybe two more if you take into account the second landing. Standing in the garden I had believed the fourth floor had at least a number rooms but clearly, the addition had been constructed as space away from the rest of the house. 

    "A home away from home," I mutter taking in the open and airy feeling of the space. A giant floor to ceiling rectangle window opens out to the backyard another grand piano is set against it the white walls hold bookshelves with clean and new books, even the floor looks clean enough to eat off.

    I move towards the piano once the shock has resided. 

    "I knew you would find it."

    My neck snaps up to the second-floor landing where a familiar face leans over the banister. A large grin settles on Lucy Hagwill's face and she pushes her curls out of her face. She's dressed in jeans now and a t-shirt. Its a shocking difference from the last time I saw her at Willow's Mansion when she had been dressed in a maids outfit.

    "You lied to me," a loud thudding sound echoes through the room as I place the book atop the piano. Her chocolate gaze slides to the leather book and her smile broadens. "I'm assuming you left this for me?"

    "This fourth floor wasn't a part of the original plans. Catherine had it built when her mother died, she spent most of her time here. According to her, this was the safest spot in the whole house. The spies couldn't get here." Lucy walks along the bannister trailing her fingers against the polished wood and down the stairs. 

    "Ms Stevens left all the staff go," I remind her.  "You shouldn't be here."

    "Technically, neither should you Ryan Jonas."

    "Are you the spy? The one Eloise was talking about." There's an odd sense of relief seeing Lucy here. Eloise sick in bed is not as sick in the head as I've been made to believe. Although the hammer feels pretty useless now, I drop it beside the piano not feeling comfortable with the prospect of accidentally scratching the cared for black shine.

    "No. I'm not. I'm on her side, the Hagwills have always been on the side of the Moores," She juts her chin proudly. "I'm here to help you Ryan Jonas, to help you be rid of these spies."

                                                                                            #

"That's not my soup," Eloise points out as I enter her room later in the afternoon. Her gaze glows under the lamplight as I come beside her.

    "No, it's not." I concede. 

    Placing the tray on her lap I survey the food I had prepared myself in the kitchen. When I was younger my grandmother would make me all different types of foods when I was sick. She said the more I ate the closer I got to good health. Inevitably I picked up one or two things from her.

    "I've only had soup for the past..." Eloise trails off her eyes locked firmly on the plate in front of her. I can almost imagine the drool in the corner of her mouth. "Can I taste it?"

    I almost smile as I help her sit up further. "Now, you'll need to eat slow."

    She reaches for her fork and pulls a chunk of bread towards her mouth. Chewing slowly she closes her eyes in concentration.

    "It's my grandmother's recipe," I tell her. 

   Her eyes open again and she turns to look at me her doe-like eyes are watery with unshed tears. "Thank you, Jonas."

    We sit in silence as she eats. She manages half the plate and stares mournfully at the other half. I know that if she could she would have eaten everything but she needs to pace herself. 

    "We need to build your strength up. You'll need if we're to be rid of the rats."

    Her head shoots up to me. "Have you found them?"

    "I've found Lucy Hagwill," her eyes light with recognition at the name. "I'm closer to the answers now."

    Lucy had taken me to Catherine's room, where boxes of documents and diaries had been stacked in neat piles. She had explained to me what had been going on with Eloise all these years.

    "You aren't sick," I state and Eloise offers no reaction. "You're being poisoned."